A new suspect has been identified in the almost 56-year-old arson attack on a Jewish retirement home in Munich, which resulted in the deaths of seven residents. The attack, which occurred on February 13, 1970, had remained unsolved for decades, but new evidence has prompted renewed investigations by the Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism.
The Horrific Night of February 13, 1970
The emergency call came in on the evening of February 13, 1970, shortly after the start of Shabbat. A fire had broken out in the Jewish retirement home on Reichenbachstrasse in Munich, which also housed the former main synagogue. Initially believed to be an accident, the discovery of a gasoline canister at the scene confirmed that the fire was deliberately set. Six residents died from smoke inhalation or burns, and a seventh succumbed after jumping from the fourth floor.
Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München und Oberbayern, expressed her relief and gratitude for the renewed efforts. “Our entire community and all those who, like me, have personal memories of that terrible night, have long awaited this news,” Knobloch stated in a press release on Friday. She added that she had not believed it would still be possible to solve the attack. Five years ago, on the 50th anniversary of the attack, she told the Evangelical Press Service (epd) that February 13, 1970, was “a terrible day” for her. She had personally known many of the victims and residents of the retirement home, many of whom were Holocaust survivors.
Right-Wing Extremist Identified as Suspect
According to media reports on Thursday, the Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office has identified Bernd V., a right-wing extremist and known criminal who died in 2020, as a suspect. “Der Spiegel” news magazine was the first to report on the development. Bernd V. was reportedly an anti-Semite and a neo-Nazi. On February 13, 1970, he allegedly attempted to burgle a jewelry store on Gärtnerplatz with accomplices, but the attempt failed. Out of anger, he is said to have set fire to the nearby Jewish retirement home. This account was reportedly provided by a witness who contacted investigators a year ago, according to “Der Spiegel.”
The Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism, located at the Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office, declined to confirm or deny the reports when contacted by epd on Friday, stating that investigations were ongoing. They could not currently predict when they would be concluded and would not provide further information to avoid prejudicing the investigation’s outcome. The Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München und Oberbayern referred to the “Spiegel” article in its statement.
Knobloch expressed her pain that the alleged perpetrator, Bernd V., could no longer be held accountable: “Anyone who murders Jewish people, solely because they are Jews, must not go unpunished in this country.” She added, “If Bernd V. was indeed the perpetrator, it is unbearable for all the victims’ relatives from back then, for our community, and also for me personally, that he was not prosecuted for this barbaric crime until the end of his life.”
Bernd V.’s Criminal History and Previous Leads
According to media reports, Bernd V. was also responsible for other crimes, including the spectacular theft of the Madonna figure from the Blutenburg Palace Chapel a year later. Bernd V. served six and a half years in prison for this. While incarcerated, he allegedly confessed to a fellow inmate about the arson attack on the Jewish retirement home. It remains unclear why investigators did not pursue the inmate’s tip at the time. With the witness statement from a year ago, the evidence against the right-wing extremist Bernd V. as the possible perpetrator has now solidified.
This new development would also dismiss theories that left-wing extremist or Palestinian terrorists carried out the attack. Between 2013 and 2017, new investigations were conducted following new leads, but without results. Last year, the Bavarian Justice Commissioner for Antisemitism, Chief Public Prosecutor Andreas Franck, reopened the investigations. Knobloch thanked the investigators in Friday’s statement, especially Chief Public Prosecutor Franck, “without whose commitment this breakthrough would not have been possible.”
Impact and Future Steps
The identification of a suspect, even posthumously, brings a measure of closure to a long-standing and painful chapter for the Jewish community in Munich and beyond. The ongoing investigation aims to fully clarify the circumstances of the attack and provide definitive answers to the victims’ families and the public.
The case underscores the persistent threat of right-wing extremism and antisemitism, highlighting the importance of continuous efforts to combat such ideologies and ensure justice for victims of hate crimes. The commitment of authorities to pursue such historical cases demonstrates a dedication to addressing past injustices and upholding the rule of law.
The community hopes that the full disclosure of the investigation’s findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of the events of 1970 and reinforce the resolve to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The final report from the Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism is awaited, which is expected to detail the findings and formally conclude the investigation into this heinous act.
